The River's Daughter

By: Bridget Crocker

Narrated by: Bridget Crocker

A vivid and propulsive memoir about finding courage and meaning in a life outdoors, by a world-class whitewater rafting guide.

After Bridget Crocker’s parents’ volatile divorce, she moved with her mother from Southern California to Wyoming. Her life was idyllic, growing up in a trailer park on the banks of the Snake River with a stepfather she loved, a new baby brother, and the river as her companion—until her mother suddenly took up a radical new lifestyle, becoming someone Bridget barely recognized. The one constant in her life—the place Bridget felt whole and fully herself—was the river. When she discovered the world of whitewater rafting, she knew she’d found her calling.

On the river, Bridget learned to read the natural world around her and came to know the language of rivers. One of the few female guides on the Snake River, she then traveled to the Zambezi River in Africa, some of the most dangerous whitewater in the world, where she faced death and learned to conquer her fears—both on the water and off. The river taught her how to overcome years of betrayals and abuse, to trust herself, and, finally, how to help heal her family from generational cycles of trauma and poverty.

A beautifully rendered memoir of a woman coming into her own, The River’s Daughter opens us to the possibilities of transformation through nature.

©2025 Bridget Crocker (P)2025 Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks

Loved

Great read, engaging, heroic and brave. The story is captivating and I couldn’t put it down.

Written from the heart, told by the soul

Very well written and as a fellow river guide it brought back memories of what drew me to the river. Africa still being on my bucket list I enjoyed reading Bridget's adventure but also appreciated her hard truth stance about the racial and inequality problems...here, there and now. As a woman, not only did I find empathy in what she went through but I am sure many women will find parts of it very relatable, as I did. Thank you Bridget for having the courage to share your story so we all can heal.

Raw and honest.

Bridget details her life and growth and everyone that she had the honor to get to know. She is an inspiration in being the main character in our own stories and not the supporting characters or victims in the stories of others.

Powerful, Heartfelt, and Beautifully Told

The River’s Daughter is one of those rare memoirs that pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go. The storytelling is raw and deeply human-sometimes painful, sometimes uplifting, but always authentic. I found myself completely immersed, as if I were walking alongside the author through every memory, every hardship, and every triumph. The narration was excellent, too. It felt like sitting across from a friend who is finally telling you the story they’ve carried inside for years. The pacing kept me engaged, and the emotional depth made it impossible to put down. This book is more than just a memoir; it’s a journey of resilience, identity, and the power of remembering where you come from. Highly recommended for anyone who loves real stories that linger long after you’ve finished listening.

Excellent!

Moving, honest story that is exotic and totally relatable at the same time. Thank you.